What Is Atticus Symbolize Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird details the events of a rape trial from the perspective of the defendant’s attorney’s daughter, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Lee heavily relies on the use of symbols in the novel to demonstrate a greater theme of the story. The mockingbird that is referred to in the title and that appears as a motif in the novel is said to symbolize innocence. Scout’s father, Atticus, states that, “it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 119). Miss Maudie further explains his statement, saying that mockingbirds do not harm anyone or anything; they simply provide us with sweet music (Lee 119). The innocent nature of a mockingbird makes it a symbol for Tom Robinson, the innocent black man accused of raping a white woman (Smykowski). However, I reject this idea. The mockingbird does not symbolize innocence; the mockingbird symbolizes the social norm.

Throughout the novel, Atticus struggles with defending Robinson. Atticus has a social responsibility to assume Robinson is guilty only because of his skin color. But when Atticus discovers evidence that supports Robinson’s innocence, he faces a conflict within himself: pride. Atticus knows if he shares this evidence, he could ruin himself socially. The question becomes should he do

what is right and defend Robinson or look after himself and maintain a good reputation amongst his community?
The element of civil rights is essential to the novel and goes hand in hand with the topic of a man’s pride.

Atticus’ internal conflict of pride is created by the external conflict of civil rights. Atticus would not have this problem had there been no civil rights conflict. It would have been easy for him to do his job, present the evidence, and defend Robinson. That would have made for an exceedingly lackluster story unless one thoroughly relishes in the ins and outs of the law. The plot of the story hinges on its racial subplot. But it is only that: a subplot. It is merely the essential setting needed to understand the story and the foundation on which the story takes place. This leads us to the only other major plot

line.
Atticus struggles with his pride, but ultimately faces the realization that he must be the one to break the color barrier that has been so fragilely protected. It is an opportunity to build tension that will “shake the foundation of their racially-divided town” (Esselman). His expectations are to shatter their discriminatory ideas and bring awareness to civil rights. Unfortunately, the novel has the most obvious ending: the all white jury finds Robinson guilty, despite the strong evidence proposed by Atticus. The reader feels a sense of injustice. Robinson was innocent, but was sentenced to death because of his skin color. This brings the reader to the conclusion that the mockingbird is in reference to killing Robinson.
However, that interpretation is too obvious. Of course it was wrong to kill Robinson. Of course Boo Radley was misjudged. Do we need a symbol to understand such a simple concept? Smykowski says, “It is, in fact, symbolism that makes this novel so rich and pertinent.” The act of digging into the symbol, tearing it apart, and examining its every detail is what captivates a reader. If the symbol represents the basic plot line, how is the reader supposed to accomplish this task? For satisfaction, the avid reader needs a deeper level of elements and symbolism.
The casual reader makes the mistake of reading the book at its surface and thus does not see the true meaning of the story. On the surface, it may seem as though Lee is commenting on the innocence of black people. However, at a deeper level, Lee is revealing the corruption of how the white people treat blacks and how it has become a social norm to do so. Breaking said norm would cause one to be shunned and disrespected. Therefore, this way of thinking is never tested or thought of as wrong. Darren Felty argues that society is “willing to execute an innocent man for a crime he did not commit rather than question their belief in black inferiority and their social taboos about interracial relationships.”
To Kill a Mockingbird is more about the pride and prejudice of the society in which Scout and Atticus lived than it is about a man’s innocence. The novel’s ultimate objective is to expose the “ugliness of this racist society” (Esselman). Their biggest mistake is valuing their pride more than an innocent man’s life. In that society, to point out this flaw is to kill a mockingbird. It shoots a hole in the peaceful structure of society. It interrupts everyday life and causes a community to examine the scene.